SE Illinois News

State Representative Patrick Windhorst, who serves as the House Republican Floor Leader and as the Republican Ranking Member and Spokesman on the House Ethics & Elections Committee, has voiced opposition to proposed legislation that would require all eligible Illinois citizens to vote in every election. The bill, known as HB 2718 or the “Facilitate Voting for All” Act, was discussed this week during a House Ethics & Elections subject matter hearing.

“There are some serious questions about what the idea of compulsory voting would mean,” Windhorst said. “We see in other countries penalties that range from listing the names of people who choose not to vote in some public space or online, to financial penalties for people who don’t vote. Part of our electoral process includes the right of people not to engage. We have the right to free speech, and we also have the right not to speak.”

Windhorst emphasized his support for citizen engagement but expressed concern about potential consequences if compulsory voting is implemented.

“There are those who, for one reason or another, choose not to engage in the political process, even though we would like to encourage everyone to be informed and to participate in our democratic process,” Windhorst said. “When we move from encouraging and convincing people to vote to making it illegal when eligible citizens choose not to vote, I believe we have gone too far. I oppose this measure and will vote against it if it advances further in the legislative process.”

Windhorst was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois' 117th House District in 2023, succeeding Natalie Phelps Finnie.